TROTTING Cardigan Bay to be honoured on Saturday at Yonkers

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32635, 17 June 1971, Page 8

TROTTING Cardigan Bay to be honoured on Saturday at Yonkers

(By.

SAM ANZALONE.

publicity director of Yonken Raceway)

NEW YORK.

The retired world-renowned pacer, which is a national hero in his native New Zealand and which became just as esteemed to American harness racing fans, will be honoured by the racing of the $35,000 Cardigan Bay Pace this Saturday (New Zealand time). And befittingly, the event will be held at Yonkers Raceway.

“Cardy,” as he became known to his followers, had been electrifying in ' his New Zealand and Australian performances, and was invited to America by Yonkers; officials early in 1964 to, compete in the Interna- ! tional Pace. His training and driving duties in the United States . were to be accepted by Stan- ‘ ley Dancer, after an American ■ syndicate had paid $lOO,OOO : for the right to the horse. By the time his racing j career was concluded, after ceremonies to that effect at Yonkers on October 12, 1968, Cardigan Bay had established himself as the first harness horse to reach slm in stakes ($1,000,837) and he had won the greater portion of that total at Yonkers ($403,500) from 15 of his 66 victories. With Dancer at the reins, Cardigan Bay made his United States debut at the age of eight in the $15,000 New Zealand Prep at Yonkers, which he won handily. But in the International Pace, he was neck beaten by the great American pacer. Overtrick. The rivalry between “Cardy” and Overtrick was eventually to carry into every home in America with the Dan Patch Pace on July 16 of that year, at Yonkers the next major battle. This showdown, with Vernon Dancer driving for his younger brother behind Cardigan Bay, provided Yonkers with a new track record, as the New Zealand gelding won by a nose in 1:58 1/5. Such was the excitement that an immediate Dan Patch Encore was arranged for the following week, with Overtrick winning by the same margin in 1:59 1/5. Cardigan Bay, by the end of his first season on these shores, had amassed $160,750, of which $lOO,OOO was gained from five wins at the Westchester course. In 1965, the gelded son of Hal Tryax and Colwyn Bay added another $208,000 to his

career total, with his greatest success, aside from Yonkers, coming at Roosevelt Raceway and Hollywood Part where he gained important wins in the National Pacing Derby, Nassau Pace and Hollywood Classic. His time of 1:57 2/5 on the California course was a world mark for aged geldings. Big wins In 1966 "Cardy” had his greatest season, age proving no deterrent He became the first horse to sweep all three legs of Yonkers’ classic International Pacing Series and also won four other prestigious events on the course. Among those latter engagements was the highly publicised Pace of the Century against the American boom horse, Bret Hanover. Cardigan Bay won the mile battle in a stirring straight duel, on the way to his finest year in money winnings $268,725. His final two seasons found Cardigan Bay putting the finishing touches on his allimportant list of major stakes triumphs. He took Canada’s prized Provincial Cup, found the winner’s circle in Liberty Beil's Clark Memorial and took his final win at Freehold in his last start on September 14, 1968. After his official retirement Cardigan Bay., according to the terms of his sale, was sent back to New Zealand where he was paraded around the country before thunderous crowds. And to further recognise his achievements the New Zealand Government issued a special commemorative postage stamp. Today, Cardigan Bay lives a life of leisure among the beautiful surroundings on Puketutu Island, near Auckland. Record likely The year-old Yonkers Raceway track record is in jeopardy of being shattered this Saturday when eight of the world’s fastest pacers contest the Cardigan Bay Pace, the final leg in the

$170,000 international pacing series.

owned by the Armstrong Brothers, of Brampton, Canada, has earned the reputation of being one of the fastest finishers in racing todny. The expected hot early pace can only help the six-year-old stallion, which will be handled by J. O’Brien. At the end of 1970, Horton Hanover had won $254374, with a record of imin 58sec on a five-furiong track.

- In last year’s contest, Fulls : Napoleon, the brilliant son of t Dale Frost, recorded a Imin I Msec win over Horton HanI over to set a new track »standard. This bettered the 1 old mark of Imin M 1-SSec I ' established by Cardigan Bay : on July 16, 1964. ' To demonstrate the out- 1 standing quality of the horses 1 i which are expected to run in • ; the Cardigan Bay Pace, the : field will include the first : two-year-old to ever break : 2min on a half-mile trade i (Laverne Hanover)); the ' fastest winner of a multiple i heat stakes in the sport's his- ‘ tory (Rum Customer, Imin ' Msec); and the co-holders of - the 1971 season’s mark for a 1 half-mile track (Keystone ■ Pat and Super Wave, Imin ; M 3-ssec). In addition to ‘ these outstanding performers, ‘ Horton Hanover, which was " just short of Fulla Napoleon in his record-setting race 1 last year, and the veteran, ! Claridge, which is the second ' oldest horse to take a 2min 5 mark, are also expected to ’ compete. r Laverne Hanover and Rum * Customer, which make up a . Haughton stable entry, com- , prise the wealthiest pair of stablemates ever to hit the t racetrack. Their combined , earnings are more than $1.5 5 million and steadily increas- ] infi-

Super Wave, owned by Dr G. K. Boyce, of London, Canada, has won mom than $300,000 during his career, with a record of Imin 57 3-ssec taken last year at Brandywine Raceway. This speedster had three wins and three thirds in his first seven starts in 1971.

A trotting-bred son of Star’s Pride and Highland Lassie, Horton Hanover,